We at the South African National Council for the Blind are very passionate about literacy and therefore embraces the government’s literacy campaign by sharing our expertise with them to ensure the best possible outcome.

Kha Ri Gude is a national campaign intended to provide millions of South Africans with the opportunity to become literate.

In 2008 at the start of the campaign various individuals with expertise in Adult Education and Training were seconded from their respective organisations and institutions to the National Department of Education to run the Literacy campaign. These individuals include:

• Dr. Obert Maguvhe – SA National Council for the Blind
• Prof. John Aitchison – University of KZN
• Prof. Veronica McKay – UNISA
• Mr. Mzwandile Matthews – Department of Education – Chief Director
• Mrs. Marietta Du Toit – Department of Education – Finance Directorate

For the purposes of clarity we need to define what secondment is:
A secondment is where an employee temporarily changes job roles within the same company or transfers to another organisation for an agreed period of time. Secondments can be to organisations within the private or public sector, or to a non profit making organisation, such as a charity or government body.

Dr. Obert Maguvhe has been formally seconded to the National Department of Basic Education since 2008 when the Campaign began and will be under secondment until the project ends. He however, still contributes to the work of the SANCB in terms of his field of expertise in Special Needs Education for visually impaired persons.

Dr. Obert Maguvhe is the Director of Special Needs for the Kai Ri Gude Literacy Campaign. This involves the following duties and responsibilities:

• Identifying learners with special needs
• Training of facilitators
• Assessment of portfolios
• Development of accessible learning teaching support material (LTSM)
• Monitoring and evaluation
• General Administration

We requested that Dr. Maguvhe maintain constant contact with the SANCB, so that he would be kept abreast of developments within our organisation, as well as providing expertise and guidance at our Education Desk. This mutual agreement does not extend financial advantages to the incumbent nor does it have any financial leverage on the SANCB as an organisation. In other words there is no financial benefit to either party.

It should be noted as a matter of fact that the SANCB does not have any administrative or financial authority of the Kha Ri Gude Literacy Campaign.

Recruitment of personnel, training, supervision and payment of stipends are handled by the campaign office and all enquiries on the campaign should be forwarded to Dr. Obert Maguvhe (012 452-3811) or Prof. Veronica Mckay (012 357-3797).

The SANCB is releasing this statement since there seems to be some confusion and a perception that we are responsible for the campaign. We want to clear the air as stated above: we do not control the campaign, however, we encourage all blind and partially sighted people to participate in the campaign in order to improve the quality of life of our disadvantaged brothers and sisters.

Jace Nair
National Executive Director
SA National Council for the Blind